by bergina » Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:48 pm
Hi Linda,
For me personally, it is so difficult to go back once I have given a particular painting project some serious time, a lot of planning, resource gathering , outlaying , and always some unexpected luck and then finally feeling good about signing my name which is a big deal . It is for this reason that I try not to leave any stone unturned. Though you have signed this, you probably have more patience than me and can revisit a past work. This can be a very painful frustrating process, but phenomenal gains can be attained if you understand and believe that some changes can make your work better.
This is why you have to think things out and have a well devised plan based on sound artistic principals. Having great resource material doesn’t hurt either.
On a personal note, I am a bit uncomfortable with the Master and Art Teacher label . I don’t see myself wearing this jacket. I was a teacher for many years, but relatively nothing to do with art. I do have a good understanding of the basic art principles and in my own specific style feel very comfortable and good about my completed work However. there are people who show and visit this site who are infinitely more knowledgeable than myself but thanks for the vote of confidence anyway.
With that said, if I can be of any help, and have the time, I’ll fire it your way.
Here we go; I am short of time and will be for the next month so I"ll get to the point.
Concerning the lighthouse foreground; you have some nice grass / rock / water detail but the building itself seems just to be a smooth cylinder of solid white. Is it wood? You did include 3 windows (no detail in them), a top and railing but as it appears the main focuses of the painting, why isn’t there more detail or color shading in the structure of the lighthouse?
I think it is also a bit tilted. To check this, mark the very center of the top and the center of the bottom then connect these two dots using a straight edge (ruler, piece of hard wood flooring, anything straight). Observe how parallel this ruler is to the right and left side of your canvas. I believe this it’s quite slanted. This is why I asked if you were working from a real photo.
Your water is nicely done though not quite even at the horizon line. The left side is a bit lower according to my eye.
The foreground beach is a bit puzzling? It is painted very well but seems to be running down hill towards the main ocean almost as if a river were meeting the sea. I think it’s the angle of the base of the rocks to the front of the lighthouse.
I think figured it out. Not only is the lighthouse tilted but also the ground it sit’s on. Shift the entire foreground about 8 -10 egrees to the right and you are good to go!
You have created very nice depth through the comparison in size between the foreground land the distant shore. However you also need to dilute / gray the color green /
own intensity and also soften the detail. I find the back land much too strong in color and still to sharp in detail. If you address one or both of these issues the perception of depth should greatly increase. I do really like your overall sky however the inclusion of some very intense yellow bands for me, has a tendency to pull the distant background to far forward. What this means is the distant in any painting in order to portray depth should be in the blue family (cool) while foreground colors are generally in the warm (sun, yellows, reds strong
owns) family. Of course all these rules can bend, so difficult to expresses here.
Hope you understand some of these comments. I had to rush these thoughts and comments, spelling and grammar as things are very busy here tonight.
Have to go and hope this was of some help.
Always my comments are with respect and consideration as to your previous efforts and work on this painting.
Al
Anyway, I'm sure you have alot to say about it because I can STILL see things wrong with it so I will await your input. I appreciate your take on things from the "teacher" aspect... as always.
